The Yemeni Constitution has been substantially amended (52 clauses) in 1994, following the civil war of that year. The changes were adopted by parliament on 29 Sep 1994. The ICL edition does not yet include the amendments.

The Republic of Yemen was established by proclamation on 22 May 1990. It was created by merging the former Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen, Capital: Sanaa) which had become independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 with the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen, Capital: Aden) which had gained independence from the United Kingdom on 30 Nov 1967.

Politics are dominated by the General People's Congress Party (GPC) of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The islamist party Islah used to be GPC's junior partner, but now is its main election rival. The opposition includes the southern Yemen Socialist Party.

History and News

April 1997: Elections are due.

29 Sep 1994: Constitutional Amendments after a civil war in which the North defeats the South's military bid to break away from the union.

1993: Fair, multi-party, universal-suffrage election are won by GPC (123 out of 301 seats in the national parliament); also successful was Islah (62 seats).

22 May 1990: Proclamation of the Republic of Yemen. North and South Yemen are joining.